Super Short Summary

In North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, Margaret Hale moves with her family from the rural South of England to the industrial town of Milton in the North, where the stark differences in social class and working conditions deeply affect her. She meets John Thornton, a wealthy mill owner, and becomes torn between her sympathy for the plight of the mill workers and her growing attraction to Thornton. The story explores themes of social change, class conflict, and personal growth as Margaret navigates her new environment and complex relationships. The novel includes intense depictions of illness and industrial strife.